The current laptop market is already overflowing — we're sure you've noticed that if you've done even 30 seconds of research. Unfortunately, laptop is just an umbrella term, and if you thought that was bad, just wait until you attempt to maneuver through the Chromebook market.

Since you clicked on this post, you probably already have an idea of what sets Chromebooks apart from traditional laptops. If you don't, here's a little debriefing:

Chromebooks are some of the smallest, most lightweight laptops out there. Most don't exceed 13.3 inches, and most won't go past the $600 mark. These web-centric devices run on Chrome OS rather than Windows or Mac OS, and instead of having mass amounts of internal storage and memory, most everything is kept in the cloud — so no, they're not the same thing as a budget laptop.

Chromebooks are ace for things like browsing the web, sharing files, streaming Netflix, and traveling.

Because adding more built-in storage and memory is what usually jacks up the price of traditional laptops, it's easy to see why Chromebooks are significantly more affordable. Low maintenance is the name of the game here. While some will have pretty powerful processors, most specs aren't able to compete with those of a MacBook or gaming laptop — so if you're a gamer, do hardcore video or photo editing, or are just really passionate about the presence of 4K, you might want to look elsewhere.

However, if you're anything like me, most of your laptop activities are done online, and scary-sounding numbers that have to do with graphics cards, processors, and solid state drives won't even pertain to you. Plus, being forced to do everything in the cloud lessens your chance of losing everything if your laptop crashes. If you use Google Docs so much that you find yourself dreaming about it or never remember to physically back up your stuff, a Chromebook might be a more natural fit for you over a heavy duty laptop. Oh yeah, and you'll probably save a few bucks, too.

Raise your hand if you are wildly overwhelmed and just want someone else to do the work for you.

Finding the drive to tackle your work can be hard — especially on Mondays...and Fridays...and all days in between, honestly. Unless you're on a laptop that's genuinely fun to use, that is. Meet the Google Pixelbook, an upscale Chromebook with Google Assistant voice commands that will make you want to get shit done.
We've gathered from numerous sources including PCMag and CNet that Google's Pixelbook offers the best Chrome OS experience users can ask for. Mashable's Ray Wong is legit in love with it, and coming from an Apple person, that's saying something. However, you can guess that this luxury doesn't come cheap: At $999, you're forking over as much as you would for a traditional laptop. I guess that's what you pay for Google's trusted name and a device that's this damn nice.
Attention to detail is obvious here. The Pixelbook sports a clean, modern look and manages to be extremely thin without feeling like it's about to snap in half. The 360-degree hinges are sturdy, and that convertible potion is just an added bonus (as if you needed any more convincing). Running apps from the Google Play Store is smooth AF — you can even run Netflix's offline downloads feature, which is rare for non-smartphones and a plus for Mac fans. It also houses 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of built-in storage as well as voice commands, which is unheard of for a Chromebook. So yes, it costs as much as a regular laptop, but has some non-Chromebook specs up its sleeve that make the steep price appropriate.
There's not much to complain about (aside from the fact that it'll steal a grand from you, of course). Audio quality is meh and battery life should be way better for what you're paying, but the good specs seem to outweigh the bad. The stylus isn't included like it is with Samsung's Chromebook, which is always a bummer — but spending $100 on the Pixelbook Pen is totally worth it to make life way easier.
Find the Google Pixelbook for $999 (or as low as $774.99 on sale) here.

Frequent travelers need something thin, light, and able to be bumped around in a carry on without worry of breaking. But since when do thin, light, and heavy duty go together? Since the Asus Chromebook Flip C302 came out, that's when. It's been in numerous laptop stories as one of the best laptops in general (and is a PCMag Editor's Choice) even when competing with traditional laptops — and its enthusiastically positive reviews prove that it's a good decision.
The Chromebook Flip rolls in at just $499, which is pretty in-line with the average Chromebook. However, with the slick MacBook look and the specs it has going on, we're honestly surprised that it's not more expensive — but we're not complaining. We dubbed this our travel pick for its feather-like weight and baby 12.5-inch touchscreen, making packing a carry-on and long commutes on foot significantly less agonizing. Though the screen is small, that puppy is full HD and can be flipped 360 degrees, so boring plane rides or flight delays can be turned into a mini Netflix marathon.
Inside this little fella lies impressive performance: a 6th generation Intel Core m7 processor, up to 4GB DRAM, a fully backlit keyboard, and ultra fast loading speeds thanks to the 802.11 ac WiFi connection. In other words, the Chromebook Flip is pretty flippin' powerful. (One blogger even said that this is the laptop that made him come back to Chrome OS.) The sides are equipped with two USB-C ports and a micro SD card slot, and a fully charged battery should last around 10 hours. And, as if you're not already saving a shit ton of money with this purchase, Asus will also throw in 100GB of free storage on Google Drive for two years. That's 33,000 pictures, 20,000 songs, or 150 hours of HD video. Dude.
Our point? Having a smaller budget will *not* limit you to a glorified children's LeapPad that will break within the first few months. Asus has always been a dependable, affordable brand, and we love them for that. Learn something and get the Asus Chromebook Flip for $499 here.

Okay, but what if you want a premium Chromebook but aren't really trying to drop a grand? Good news: The HP Chromebook 13 G1 makes that possible. Sturdy and hella sharp, its design screams luxury while still staying near the price range of most competitors. It's the best combo of value, performance, and design that you're gonna see, making it a worthy (and cheaper) alternative to traditional business laptops like Dell's XPS 13 — that's a huge feat.
First things first: HP has truly outdone themselves in creating this straight up eye candy. Its exterior is thin and composed of sophisticated brushed aluminum with black backlit keys inside, giving you the crispest, clicky-est typing experiences you could want. The overall look is similar to that of a MacBook Pro — AKA it doesn't look like a cheap kid's laptop, which I think a lot of Chromebooks or smaller laptops have a problem with. It's the perfect #adulting laptop that can make you feel like you have your shit together, even if you don't. The glossy 3200 x 1800 display that the 13.3-inch screen sports is great. It's rare to find a quad-HD display in a Chromebook, making HP's Chromebook an especially good partner for creative professionals and anyone who really cares about visuals.
To get the laptop this thin, HP uses a low-power Intel Core m-5 processor to skip the need for fans. Low power doesn't mean low quality by any means — TechRadar's review even mentions that a CPU that strong is overkill for a Chromebook. It's clutch if you'll be doing some intense multitasking, as the computer was primed to help you get the most out of Google. But that, in tandem with the QHD screen, jacks up the price and lowers battery life to eight hours (not too shabby, though). Eight hours is two to four hours less than its competitors, but still two or three hours longer than a fancy Dell laptop or MacBook would get you. You're also getting 8 GB of RAM, which is twice what you're getting in most other Chromebooks and a nice backup if you don't have WiFi or LTE.
Aside from the Google Pixelbook, the luxurious HP Chromebook 13 is the closest you'll get to a traditional laptop without the hefty price. Read PCMag's full review here and get it for $525.95 here.

Trying to spend as little as possible without buying a piece of junk that's just waiting to fall apart? Look no further: The Acer Chromebook 14 is the answer to your money-saving prayers. PCMag named it an Editors' Choice product and crowned it the #1 pick in their story on the best Chromebooks of 2018. That means they picked the budget option over significantly more expensive ones, which is saying something.
The 14-inch screen on this bad boy is larger than most of its competitors, which obviously makes it a bit heavier as well — it's still less than four pounds though, which is less than a pound heavier than most others in the list. Plus, with 14 inches of a glorious 1080p full HD display, you probably won't mind a bit of extra weight. Battery life is also excellent for a device of this size: You'll get about 12 hours on one charge, which is stellar for any laptop, and especially good for one of the big guys.
The body is sturdy, made of metal and built to withstand bumps or falls. It's not as thin, sleek, or go-with-the-flow as some others in the list, but if you don't care about having the best looking laptop in Starbucks and have your sights set on value, this is your guy.
A huge HD screen, 12 hours of battery, and decent built-in memory, all in a device that's built to last? Yeah, we'll take one. Read the full PCMag review here and snag it for $299 here.

Attention, team Android: You finally have a Chromebook option on which you can run your damn Android apps. You're welcome.
A step up from the less-powerful Samsung Chromebook Plus, the Samsung Chromebook Pro is a total beast and one of the first premium Chromebooks to launch with the Google Play Store. But regardless of how many apps you insist on launching, the insane Intel Core m3 processor is able to keep up with whatever task you give it. Though this puppy is completely decked out in metal and not as thin as it could be, it's the lightest of the bunch at just 2.38 pounds — ideal for commutes on foot or walking to class. Its light-as-air feel doesn't make it flimsy by any means, and its unique matte black color gives it an extra badass kick, which we always appreciate.
Visuals are accompanied by a 2400 x 1600 touchscreen on a 360-degree hinge, which is a nicer resolution than most others on the list. That, plus a 720p webcam (in a normal, non up-the-nose spot) makes all things streaming or video-related crisp AF, and that luxury isn't always the case with Chromebooks. If you're trying to keep that beauty of a screen as smudge-free as possible, the included stylus works to make your experience as seamless as possible. It's not the S-Pen, but it's still really good — and honestly, we're just happy it doesn't have to be purchased separately.
One slightly annoying thing is that the battery life here is seriously short for a Chromebook of this size: You'll get nine hours max, which isn't bad in any other situation — it's just three to six hours less than almost all of the competitors, and I really feel like Samsung can do better. The keyboard is also a bit awkward, with a crammed layout and smaller-than-usual keys, plus a tiny AF backspace key. You'll get used to it after a while, but if you have extra large hands or fingers, typos will probably be abundant.
The Samsung Chromebook Pro does reign as one of the priciest of the bunch — but not anywhere near one grand like the Google Pixelbook. Pick up the Samsung Chromebook Pro for $529 here.

For first timers — whether that's a kid getting their first laptop or those who aren't tech savvy — the Dell Chromebook 11 is a perfect way to dip your toes into the water but without a huge learning curve or dropping a ton of cash. Though it's ace for students, it would also make a great at-home companion for the whole fam's online needs. One review literally calls it "too good to be left to the kids."
You know and trust the Dell name by now, so we probably don't have to stress the fact that it's reliable AF — but it truly is. It feels tough and sturdy and will be able to withstand most things a kid could throw at it. Its unique dark gray coloring is similar to the MacBook's iconic Space Grey shade, which makes it way better at hiding fingerprints and scuffs than silver devices. The screen is pretty minuscule at 11.6 inches (with not-so-thin bezels), but this also makes it small and light enough for a kid's backpack or other traveling needs. Its 1366 x 768 display is one of the most underwhelming of the bunch, but if it's not being used for any hardcore gaming or design work, you probably won't notice. Most 1080p videos and Netflix will be fine, which is all you need to know.
Aside from the meh resolution, performance specs on this puppy are pretty hefty. The CPU is fast, and in tandem with the 51W battery, works to make battery life about 10 hours. There's also a good variation of ports and slots along the side, which a lot of Chromebooks shit out on. You're screwed without WiFi as there's no option to go 4G, which is pretty risky when the only way to access your stuff is connecting to the cloud. However, the dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi connection is pretty stellar, so access to hotspots (like the one from your phone) should be seamless. With your purchase, you'll also get two years of Google Drive storage for free.
All in all, it's clearly not the top tier of the bunch — but for a mere 200 bucks and some change, it's ace for kids, schoolwork, or simply dipping your toes into the Chromebook world. Read PCMag's full review here and get it for $209 here.

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